75 
1907-8.] The Body-Temperature of Fishes, etc. 
which they were swimming, and it is not likely that this would have been 
the case if the latter had undergone no variation. 
On September 28 twenty sillocks or podleys (young coal-fish, first year) 
were caught on the fly at Stangar Head, Orkney, and set free in a large 
quantity of sea-water which had been allowed to flow into the boat. 
From this they were transferred later to a large basket which was anchored 
in the still water of Pan Bay, and at the end of that time the body- 
temperature was recorded. Ten of them escaped accidentally before any 
observations were made. The bulb of the thermometer was introduced 
through the mouth into the stomach, and each of the ten fish examined had 
the same temperature as the water in which they were swimming, viz. 12 0, 2 C. 
On four occasions (October 12 and 26, and November 2 and 9) a 
“ long-line ” was set in the Firth of Forth off Musselburgh, in comparatively 
shallow water, and in all twenty-one flounders ( Pleuronectes flesus), two 
young coal-fish ( Gadus virens), and one smelt ( Osmerus eperlanus) were 
obtained. Samples of sea-water were brought up from the bottom in a 
Buchanan-Richard reversing water-bottle, and the temperature of these 
and of the water at the surface was taken. The fish, when brought to the 
surface, were grasped by the lower jaw with a pair of strong pincers- 
provided with rubber-covered handles to prevent heat being conducted 
from the hand of the observer, and so held under the water while the 
thermometer was introduced through the mouth into the stomach. The 
temperature was read with the fish completely immersed in the water. 
The results are given below. 
October 12, 1907. 
Water. 
Fish. 
Difference. 
Surface 11°6 C. 
Bottom (5 fathoms) 11*6 
( 2 11°6 C. 
Flounders < 1 11*7 
(l 11*8 
d 
o 9 T* ^ 
o o o 
4 Mean, 11 ’68 
0-08 
October 26. 
Water. 
Fish. 
Difference. 
Surface 10°4 C. 
Bottom (5-| fathoms) 10-4 
Flounders {7 jjf' 
o o 
6° 
Q 
9 Mean, 10-42 
0-02 
